Winding control device for continuous spinning frames and the like



Jul 23, 1970 Filed Nov. 30, 195

JEANFREDERIC HERUBEL WINDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS SPINNINGFRAMES AND THE LIKE 2 Shams-Sheet l 1NVENTOK u y 1970 JEAN FREDERICHERUBEL 2 WINDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS SPINNING FRAMES AND THELIKE 2 Sheets$heet 1.

Filed NOV. 30. 1967 IN VENTOR FREDE/RIC HERUBEL A JEHN W M hM w' Maw/mpUnited States Patent 3,521,827 WINDING CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSSPINNING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Jean-Frdric Herubel, Guebwiller, France,assignor to N. Schlumberger & Cie, Guebwiller, Haut-Rhin,

France, societe a responsabilite limitee Filed Nov. 30, 1967, Ser. No.686,985 Claims priority, application France, Dec. 9, 1966,

Int. Cl. B6sh 54/36 U.S. Cl. 242-264 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREWinding control means for a continuous spinning frame or the likecomprising a driving member capable of being driven with an alternatingmovement and constituting an element of a first differential and adriven member permanently connected with the ring rail and constitutingan element of a second differential, an element common to the twodifferentials, a further element of the first differential beingconnected to a ratchet wheel in engagement with a pawl carried by thedriving member while a further element of the second differential may beeither held fixed or driven to ensure to bring about overwinding orunderwinding, while a pivoting element carries a second pawlco-operating with this ratchet wheel and a fixed stop limits theamplitude of pivoting movement of the pivoting element to bring aboutthe fundamental movement.

The invention relates to automatic winding control means in continuousring spinning frames and the like, for example, continuous twistingframes.

In forming wound bobbins, the ring-carrying rails have imparted to theman up and down movement of constant amplitude permitting the winding ofthe thread in truncated layers; this movement is called periodicmovement. The length of the thread wound during one run of thering-carrying rails is called a needleful. After each needleful, thering-carrying rails are displaced upwards relative to their middleposition to permit the Staggering of the layers of threads; thismovement is called fundamental movement. The combination of these twomovements constitutes the actual winding movement of the spinning frame.

In addition, for subsequent unwinding of the bobbins of continuous ringor continuous twisting frames, and more particularly when working onautomatic winders, it is necessary, on the one hand, to dispose, on theupper end of the bobbin tube, a few spirals of reserve threads quitedistinct from the body of the bobbin to facilitate the work of theautomatic piecing means. The formation of these spirals of reservethreads is what is called hereinafter the overwinding phase.

On the other hand, it is advantageous to complete the winding bydisposing, on the collar of the spindle which carries the bobbins, a fewturns of thread to enable the winding to be carried on, withoutinterruption, on the newly mounted bobbin tube. The formation of theseturns will be called hereinafter the underwinding phase.

The invention has, as an object, the provision of means adapted toeffect the automatic carrying out of one, at least, of these two phasesof overwinding and underwindmg.

For this purpose, according to the invention the winding control device,that is to say, control of the up and down movements of thering-carrying rails of the frame, comprises, on the one hand, a drivingmember capable of being operated by an alternating movement andconstituting an element of a first differential and, on the other3,521,327 Patented July 28, 1970 hand, a driven member permanentlyconnected to the rails and constituting an element of a seconddifferential, the two differentials having a common element, a furtherelement of the first differential being connected to a ratchet wheel inengagement with a pawl carried by the driving member while the furtherelement of the second differential may be either held fixed or be drivenin one direction to ensure the overwinding, or in the other direction toensure the underwinding, while an element pivoting coaxially with theratchet wheel carries a second pawl co-operating with this ratchet wheeland a fixed stop limits the pivoting amplitude of the pivoting elementin the direction of ascent of the rails to cause an advance of thedriven member in respect of the driving member so as to ensure thefundamental movement, the pivoting element being brought to its initialposition by a stop integral with the driving member.

The invention likewise relates to forms of construction comprising one,at least, of the following features:

(a) The driving member, the element integral with the ratchet wheel, andthe common element forming, respectively, the satellite carrier and thetwo sun gears of the first differential, as well as the driven elementand the further element of the second differential forming respectively,the two sun gears of the second differential the satellite carrier ofwhich is formed by the aforementioned common element, and theaforementioned pivoting element are all mounted in coaxial rotation.

(b) The first differential comprises an intermediate gear insimultaneous engagement with the planetary gears and with the pinionintegral with the ratchet wheel so as to ensure a rotation of theplanetary gears and the pinion in the same direction.

(0) Between the further planetary element and the planetary gears of thesecond differential, there is interposed a reduction gear train whichdoes not modify the direction of rotation.

One embodiment of a winding control mechanism according to the inventionfor a continuous ring spinning frame will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a profile view of the ring carrying rails in a winding controlmechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of portions of the windingcontrol mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a profile view of the winding mechanism with the ring carrierrails in a raised position; and

FIG. 5 shows a frame spindle carrying a finished bobbin.

In FIG. 1 can be seen a part only of a continuous ring spinning frame 1carried by a rail 2 fixed on the upper end of small pillars 3 mounted toslide vertically in guides 7, 8 of the frame 9.

The ascending and descending movement of the ring carrying rails 2 iseffected by a horizontal rod 12 to which is attached one end of a belt13 which passes over an idler roller 17 with a horizontal axle and theother end of which is attached at 18 to the lower end of thecorresponding pillar 3. The rod 12 is mounted so as to be capable ofbeing operatedwith a horizontal toand-fro movement in the frame 9 of themachine, under the action of a winding control means 21.

At 24 is indicated a finished bobbin of thread mounted on a verticalrotating spindle 25 (see also FIG. 5) which is driven in conventionalmanner by a strap or belt (not shown) passing over a pulley 28 securedto the said, spindle. The winding control device 21 comprises a rotatinghorizontal shaft 31 (see also FIG. 2) supported by the bearings 32, 33mounted on two supports 34, 35 secured to the frame 9 of the machine.

On the shaft 31 are loosely mounted for rotary movement the followingparts: a sprocket 41 integral with a pinion 42, a gear 43 integral witha plate 44 which hereinafter will be called, for this reason, the platewheel, a toothed wheel 45 integral with a pulley 46, a ratchet wheel 48integral with a pinion 49 and an oscillatory lever 53 held, by a washer52 and a nut 51, screwed on one screw-threaded end of the shaft 31. Apart 47 having three arms, and which will be called hereinafter a star,is fixed to the shaft 31, for example, by keying. There is also shown aring 54 pinned to the other end of the shaft 31 to hold the assembly ofadjacent parts axially on the shaft.

In engagement with the pinion 42 is a gear 61 (see also FIG. 3) integralwith a pinion 62 loosely mounted for rotation on an axle 63 fixed in theplate 44 parallel to the shaft 31. The pinion 62 is in engagement with agear 64 secured to one end of a shaft 65 rotatably mounted in the plate44, likewise parallel to the shaft 31. On the other end of the shaft 65is fixed a pinion 66 which is in engagement with the gear 45 looselymounted on the shaft 31. Planetary pinions or gears 64 and 66 constitutesatellite elements of the second differential.

The plate wheel gear 43 is in engagement with a pinion 7.1 secured toone end of an axle 72 rotatably mounted in an arm of the star 47 andlying parallel to the shaft 31. On the other end of the axle 72 is fixeda gear 73 which is in engagement with a gear 74 loosely mounted on anaxle 75 fixed in the star 47 and likewise parallel to the shaft 31. Thegear 74 is also in engagement with the central pinion 49. Planetarypinions or gears 71 and 73 constitute satellite elements of the firstdifierential.

On one arm of the star 47 is fixed an axle 77 which serves as a pivotfor a pawl 78 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 48. The star 47executes, on the shaft 31, an oscillating movement of an amplitude ofthe order of 50, such that the pawl 78 always remains above thehorizontal plane passing through the axle of the ratchet wheel 48;furthermore the shape of the pawl is such that it has on the left handside (looking'at FIG. 1) a protuberance forming a head so that the pawl78 is always urged against the ratchet wheel by the action of gravity.

W th the ratchet wheel 48 there also co-operates, likewise under theaction of gravity, a pawl 81 mounted on a pivot 82 carried by theoscillatory lever 53. The direction of inclination of the teeth of theratchet wheel 48 is that shown on the drawing, that is to say, such thateach of the two aforementioned pawls opposes clockwise rotary movementof the ratchet wheel relative to the members which carry the pawls.

In the following, in order to simplify the description, clockwiserotation will be referred to as rotation to the right and rotation inthe opposite direction will be referred to as rotation to the left.

Pivoting movement of the oscillatory lever 53 in the direction ofrotation to the right is limited by a corner piece of a stop 85 whichcan be secured by means of a bolt 86, in any desired position ofadjustment along a guide 87 which has an arcuate groove 88 concentricwith the shaft 31. A scale 89 enables the position of the corner pieceof the stop 85 to be conveniently determined. The guide 87 is fixed on asupport 91 secured to the frame 9.

Another arm of the star 47 carries a rod 92 parallel to the shaft 31 andadapted to lift the oscillatory lever 53 at a convenient time.

On the sprocket 41 is engaged a chain 95 which also passes over asprocket 96 on the shaft 97 of an electric brake motor 98.

On the pulley 46 is attached one end of a chain 101 the other end ofwhich is attached to the control rod 12 which effects the up and downmovement of the ring carrier rails. The chain 101 passes over ahorizontal sheave pulley 102 mounted loose on an axle 103 carried by theframe 9.

On the hub of the star 47 is attached one end of a chain 106 the otherend of which is attached, preferably in an adjustable manner by a slide107, to the vicinity of one end of a lever 108 which can oscillate,about its other end, on a horizontal axle 109 carried by a fixed support111. The lever 108 carries, at an intermediate point of its length, andan axle .114 on which is mounted a roller 115. The roller is pressed,under the influence of the weight of the movable equipment associatedwith the ring carrying rails acting through the control mechanism 21,against a cam 116 secured to a shaft -117 rotatably driven by means ofan electromagnetic clutch 119 from the general control of the machine,which, to simplify the explanation, has been replaced here by anelectric motor 1.18. The cam 116 has a positioning cavity 120 in whichthe roller .115 is located when the rails are in their down position.

Finally in FIG. 1, there are indicated six switches 121, 122, 123, 124,125, 126 controlled by corresponding catches 13.1, 132, 133, 134, 135,136 carried by a carriage 137 fixed relative to control rod 12 of the upand down movement of the ring carrying rails. These six switches arearranged to effect automatic control of the control device of the rod 12so as to bring about the correct winding with corresponding overwindingand underwinding.

It will be noticed that the whole of the up and down control mechanismis constituted fundamentally by two differentials. The firstdifferential is constituted by the sun gear 49, the planetary gears orsatellite elements 73 and 71 and the second sun gear 43, the satellitecarrier being constituted by the star 47. The second differential isconstituted by the sun gear 42, the planetary gears or satelliteelements 64 and 66 (the pinions 61 and 62 being only intermediary) andthe second sun gear 45, the satellite carrier being constituted by theplate wheel 43 which is no other than the second sun gear of the firstdifferential. The plate wheel 43 is therefore an element common to thetwo differentials. The driving member or star 47 is the satellitecarrier of the first differential while the driven member or pulley 46is a sun gear of the second differential.

The operation of the whole of the device is as follows:

When the whole assembly is at rest, the weight of the rails and of thewhole movable equipment which is connected therewith exercises, by meansof the belt 13 and the rod 12, a traction force on the chain 101. Thislatter tends therefore to cause the pulley 46 to turn to the left(according to the agreed direction defined above) when one looks atFIGS. 1 and 2. The electric motor 98 being stopped, the chain 95 and thesprocket 41 are kept immobile. The pinion 42 integral with the sprocket41 is therefore also immobile. The tendency of the pulley 46 to rotateto the left tends to cause the pinion 66 and the gear 64 to turn to theright, and consequently tends to turn the pinion 62 and the gear 61 tothe left. Now, since the gear 61 is in engagement with the fixed pinion42 it can, in trying to roll against pinion 42 only cause its axle 63and the plate 44 to which it is fixed to rotate around the axle 31 inthe direction of rotation to the left.

The pinion 71 in engagement with the plate wheel gear 43 therefore tendsto turn to the right. The gear 73, fixed in relation with the pinion 71,therefore also tends to turn to the right. The gear 74 in engagementwith the gear 73 therefore tends to turn to the left, and the pinion 49in engagement with the gear 74 to the right. This results in the ratchet'wheel 48, integral with the pinion 49, likewise being urged to turn tothe right by the star 47. Now, the pawl 78 opposes this movement. Thishas the result, under the conditions which have just been contemplated,that all the elements carried by the star 47 are locked and form asingle body with the latter. Now, the plate wheel 44 has a tendency toturn to the left so that, through its gear 43, it tends to cause thelocked pinion 71 to descend and consequently cause the star 47 likewiseto pivot to the left which has the effect of tensioning the chain 106.

It can be seen therefore that the whole weight of the equipment which ismovable up and down is finally balanced by the tension of the controlchain 106.

Under these circumstances, it can be seen that, if the electric motor118 is started and if the electromagnetic clutch 1119 is engaged, oneach turn of the shaft 117 the cam 116 ensures an oscillation movementof the lever 108 and consequently a corresponding to-and-fro move mentof the chain 106, that is to say, the up and down movement of the ringcarrier rails or periodic winding movement.

The pinion 71, forming for the moment a solid body with the star 47,drives in rotation the plate wheel 44 and its gear 43, on the shaft 31,in the direction to the right at the same angular speed as the saidstar. The gear 61 therefore rolls on the pinion 42, now immobile, withthe direction of rotation to the right in respect to the plate wheel.The pinion 62 therefore turns to the right, while the gear 64 and thepinion 66 turn to the left. This results in the gear 45 turning on theshaft 31, to the right at a speed a little higher than the angular speedof the plate wheel, but only a little higher, due to the triplereduction ensured by the gear couples 42-61, 62-64 and 66-45.

In the course of the descent the same ratio of angular speeds will bemaintained but in the opposite direction, that is to say, the pulley 46which holds the chain 101 turns to the left at a speed a little greaterthan that of the plate wheel '44 and its gear 43, and of the star 47which turns at the same speed as plate wheel 44.

The oscillating lever 53 is driven to the right by means of the pawl 81and the ratchet wheel 48. A moment comes when, towards the end of the upstroke of the rails, the end of the oscillating lever strikes the stop85. From this moment the oscillating lever 53 is held immobile in spaceand is opposed by the ratchet 81 on any continuation of the movement ofrotation to the right of the ratchet wheel 48, but the star 47 continuesits movement, allowing the pawl 78 to slide on the back of the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 48 (FIG. 4). The pinion 49 integral with the ratchetwheel 48 is therefore also held immobile so that the intermediate gear74 rolls on the pinion 49 turning to the right on the star and causingthe gear 73 to turn to the left with respect to the star. This resultsin that the pinion 71 turns to the left with respect to the star,imparting to the plate wheel 44 and its gear 43 an additional angularspeed to the right with respect to that of the star.

The pulley 46 which drives the upward control chain 101 therefore, inrespect to the star 47, performs an angular advance corresponding to thenumber of teeth of the ratchet wheel 48 which have been passed by thepawl 78 of the star while the ratchet wheel has been held immobile bythe oscillatory lever 53 stopped by the stop 85.

This advance of the plate wheel, with respect to the star, at each upand down cycle ensures the fundamental movement, the amplitude of whichmay be easily adjusted by a suitable positioning of the stop 85 alongthe fixed slide 88.

When the boss of the cam 116 crosses the roller 115, the weight of themovable equipment causes the latter to descend, keeping the chaintightened, at that speed which permits decrease of radius of the cam116. The chain 106 ascends, the star 47 is rotatably driven (always bythe weight of the movable equipment) to the left, the stem 92 comes tostrike the lower section of the oscillating lever 53 and from thismoment drives the said lever and, consequently by means of the pawl 81,the ratchet wheel 48 in the same direction of rotation to the left.

When the rails have reached their lowest position the control mechanismoccupies the position shown in FIG. 1.

In order to ensure that the overwinding and underwinding movement areeffected, there is provided, quite simply, an angular unwedging,controlled by the pulley 46 to which is attached the chain 101, withrespect to the star 47, the angular position of which is determined bythe position of the chain 106. For this purpose, the electric motor 98is turned in one direction or in the other, respectively, and, by meansof the chain 95, brings about a corresponding rotation of the gears 41,42, 61, 62, 64 and 66.

Since the plate wheel 44 and its gear 43 are now fixed with respect tothe star 47 (at this moment stopped) the rotation of the pinion 66ensures a corresponding rotation of the gear 45 and consequently of thepulley 46 to which is attached the up and down control chain 101.

A more detailed description of these overwinding and underwindingmovements will now be given:

After the bobbin winding phase, that is to say when the ring carryingrails reach the upper position A (FIG. 5) the switch 121 puts theautomatic control circuit (not shown) under an electric potential butthe movement of the rails is not interrupted.

When the ring carrying rails reach the lower position B, the roller islocated in the cavity of the cam 116; the switch 122 interrupts theperiodic movement and controls the starting of the motor brake 98 forthe winding. The switch 122 controls also the disengaging of the cam 116by the release of the clutch 119. The control of the winding spindles isnot interrupted during the first phase.

The ring carrying rails are brought above the upper level of the stroke,corresponding to the normal winding plate under the action of the motorbrake 98 and up to the reserve winding position C (FIG. 5). The switch123 stops the brake motor and energizes a time relay (not shown)previously regulated to the time required for a predetermined length ofoverwinding thread. The reserve is formed. The descent of the ringcarrying rails is controlled by the time relay which ensures theconnection of the brake motor for rotation in the direction to bringabout descent of the rails.

In the course of the descent of the rails, the carriage 137 operates theswitch 124, which controls the energization of the main motor, to bringabout application of rotary drive to the spindles 25.

The catch 135 operates the switch 125 which controls, on the one hand,the braking device (not shown) of the spindles and, on the other hand, atime relay which keeps the braking circuit energized for a determinedtime.

The catch 136 operates the switch 126 which cuts the current supply tothe brake motor 98, immobilising the ring carrying rails in theunderwinding position F (FIG. 5).

The regulation of the catches 134 and 135, as well as the regulation ofthe time relay of the braking circuit, are such that the spinning framedelivers just the necessary length of thread to constitute theunderwinding reserve. This latter may be reduced with precision to thedesired length. The same switch 126 short-circuits the automatic controlcircuit.

After the removal of the full bobbins and the loading of the emptytubes, the winding cycle is started up again automatically afteroperating the start button.

It is possible to regulate the machine so that it carries out eitheronly overwinding or only underwinding as the case may be.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment described andshown, which has been given by way of example.

Thus, for example, the driving member (here the star 47), thefundamental movement backing-up member (here the gear 48) and the member(here the sun gear 43) of the first differential common to the seconddifferential could be constituted by elements other than a sun gear, thesatellite carrier and the other sun gear of this first differential,respectively.

Likewise, the driven member (here the pulley 46) the mobile backing-upmember (here the pinion 42) used to ensure the overwinding and theunderwinding and the member (here the satellite carrier 44) of thesecond differential common to the first differential could beconstituted by elements other than a sun gear, the other sun wheel andthe satellite carrier of this second differential, respectively.

What I claim is:

1. A winding control device for controlling up and down movement of thering-carrying rails of a continuous ring spinning frame or the like,such as a continuous twisting frame: said device comprising, incombination, a first and a second differential, both differentialshaving at least three elements, including one element common to both;said first differential having a driving member as one of its elements;and the three elements thereof including a first sun gear, two satelliteelements and a scond sun gear; said second differential having a drivenmember as one of its elements; and the three elements thereof includinga first sun gear, two satellite elements and said driven member; saiddriving member being mounted for oscillation; said driven member beingconnected to the rails, and a further element of said seconddifferential being arranged selectively to be held fixed, to be drivenin one direction to effect overwinding, or to be driven in the otherdirection to effect underwinding; a ratchet wheel connected to a furtherelement of said first differential; a first pawl carried by said drivingmember and engaged with said ratchet wheel; a pivoted element coaxialwith said ratchet wheel; a second pawl carried by said pivoted elementand cooperating with said ratchet wheel; a fixed stop limiting theamplitude of pivotal movement of said pivoted element in the upwarddirection of movement of the rails to effect an advance of said drivenmember with respect to said driving member so as to effect thefundamental movement of said pivoted element; and a second stop fixed tosaid driving member and engaged with said pivoted element to return saidpivoted element to its initial position.

2. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving member of saidfirst differential and said element common to both differentialsconstitute satellite carriers, each carrying said satellite elements ofthe respective differential; one of the two satellite elements of thefirst differential being operatively connected to said further elementof the first differential and the other being in mesh with said commonelement; one of the two satellite elements of the second differentialbeing operatively connected to said further element of the seconddifferential and the other being in mesh with said driven member.

3. A device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first differentialincludes an intermediate gear engaged with said further element of thefirst differential and a satellite element of said first differential,to insure rotation of said last named satellite element and said furtherelement of said first differential in the same direction.

4. A device, as claimed in claim 3, further including a reductiongearing interposed between said further element and a satellite elementof said second differential, and constructed and arranged so as not tomodify the direction of rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,675,972 4/1954 Goodwin et a1-..l 242-26.42 3,072,350 1/ 1963 Anderson et a1 24226.1 3,325,109 6/1967Pray et al 24226.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 907,155 2/ 1954 Germany.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner W. H. SCHROEDER, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 5799

